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When James Gunn revealed the new Superman logo in July 2024 on his Instagram page for the highly awaited next Superman film. Now, some fans of the DC Comics and the DC Universe eventually caught on and spotted that it carried a very distinct resemblance to the symbol from the Kingdom Come comic series.
However, there’s more to this logo than what meets the eye. The logo is supposedly more than just a simple nod to a comic; it also tries to put out a statement about the past, present, and future of Superman as a character, with James Gunn rebooting him in the DC Universe.
Hope as a Symbol in the new Superman film by James Gunn
The freshly created “S” shield for Superman seemingly brings out its creativity from Alex Ross’s Kingdom Come series, but this time, it adjusts it in such a way that the logo will reflect a much brighter tone.
The Kingdom Come comic logo highlighted the “S” logo on a dark and brooding background. However, James Gunn’s Superman has picked the classic red-and-yellow color palette, gesturing a return to the humble and heroic roots of Superman as a character in the DC Universe.
This choice of selection for the costume/the logo comes in at a time when a lot many superhero films have gradually leaned into darker and grittier narratives. Gunn’s logo defies this gritty superhero trend while giving the fans someone who stands for kindness and optimism in a scornful world.
(Post via Instagram/@jamesgunn)
Peter Safran, who produced the film, describes Superman as -
“…He’s the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, he’s kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned.”
This subtle and tiny detail within the logo gives away so much more about what this character will be like. At the same time, it advocates for a thematic shift for the character, which sets him apart from the other modern, gritty superheroes.
(Post via X/@DEADLINE)
The Logo as a connection to the history of Superman
The creative choice to use the Kingdom Come comic logo for the new Superman film is not just made simply for the aesthetics but rather because it is engraved in his growth as a comic book character.
In the comic Kingdom Come, Superman is seen as quite a disheartened superhero who is mourning a world that has completely strayed away from its moral compass. The darker and gloomier the logo got, it symbolized the inner chaos he faced while he walked on a path that had lost complete faith in humanity as a whole.
However, on the other side of the coin, James Gunn’s creative decision to incorporate brighter colors of yellow and red echoes a sense of hope and humanity.
James Gunn’s Superman also exemplifies a sort of philosophical division in the genre of superheroes. While many superhero films have been focusing on characters dealing with much darker sides (be it the DCEU or even the MCU), this rendition of Superman aims to embrace hope and simplicity.
The logo for the new Superman film by Gunn is a statement on its own. By getting inspired by Kingdom Come and also using the brighter red and yellow color palette, Gunn aims towards the return of a superhero who embodies values like hope and optimism.
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